ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 24: Andrew Triggs #60 of the Oakland Athletics throws in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 24, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)

Under the Radar: Oakland Pitcher Andrew Triggs’ Strong Start

Things are very positive in the Oakland Athletics clubhouse currently, with the team locking up their third straight series win last night after defeating the Texas Rangers 3-2 in Arlington. Oakland has won four games in a row, eight of their last ten, and looks for their second sweep of the season tonight.

Offensively the A’s have been red-hot, top-5 in the MLB in nearly every major statistical category. As for their pitching, everyone is talking about Sean Manaea, who just threw the first no-hitter of the season, only the second in the 50-year history of the Athletics in Oakland, against the Boston Red Sox.

While Manaea has been the standout on the mound for the Green and Gold this season, another starter has been excelling towards the bottom of Oakland’s rotation.

Andrew Triggs, the 29-year-old right handed pitcher from Nashville, is without a loss through five starts. With the exception of one rough outing against the Chicago White Sox, Triggs has been a steady force on the mound.

Triggs earned his second win of the season last night, holding the Rangers to only one run on four hits in six full innings of work. His six strikeouts last night and only one walk was a nice bounce-back after getting shelled for six runs on five hits, including a homer, in only 1.1 innings of work against Chicago last Wednesday.

Don’t let the 4.70 ERA fool you, Triggs has been very efficient thus far this season, allowing two runs or less in all but the Chicago start. His 4.4 hits allowed per start is second only to Manaea, and his strikeouts per nine innings is up from 6.9 to nine.

Initially drafted as a relief pitcher, Triggs started just one game in the minor leagues before getting called up the The Show.